WO2003062104A1 - Star wheel for the handling of bottles - Google Patents

Star wheel for the handling of bottles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003062104A1
WO2003062104A1 PCT/IB2003/000161 IB0300161W WO03062104A1 WO 2003062104 A1 WO2003062104 A1 WO 2003062104A1 IB 0300161 W IB0300161 W IB 0300161W WO 03062104 A1 WO03062104 A1 WO 03062104A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
locating
carrier
star wheel
disc
formation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2003/000161
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Etienne Le Roux
Original Assignee
Etienne Le Roux
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Etienne Le Roux filed Critical Etienne Le Roux
Publication of WO2003062104A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003062104A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G29/00—Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
    • B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
    • B65G47/846—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B65G2201/0235—Containers
    • B65G2201/0244—Bottles

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to the assembly of apparatus for the
  • Star wheels for conveying bottles in a bottling plant typically
  • the star wheel has to be positively engaged for rotation with the drive shaft
  • star wheel is synchronised with equipment of the bottling plant, such as
  • a first known star wheel attachment assembly includes a star wheel which rests on a shoulder disc attached to an upper end of the drive shaft, with at least one locating dowel extending upwardly from the shoulder disc into the star wheel, and with a fastening bolt extending from a top of the star wheel into a threaded hole in an upper end of the drive shaft.
  • This type of assembly typically includes three dowels of which one is slightly wider than
  • the shoulder disc can be moved angularly around the drive
  • a second known star wheel attachment assembly includes a
  • the star wheel is
  • bottle handling apparatus which includes:
  • first article having an axis, and defining a resilient attachment formation proximate an end of the first article, a circumferential locating surface adjacent the attachment formation, and a carrier shoulder, axially spaced from the end; and a second article defining a receiving formation, in which the attachment formation is releasable receivable, a locating recess, complementary to the locating surface, and a carrier recess, complementary to the carrier shoulder; wherein the attachment formation, locating surface, and carrier shoulder, are simultaneously receivable in the receiving formation, locating recess, and carrier recess, respectively, when the first article is attached to the second article, so that radial loads are transferable between the locating surface and locating recess, and axial and radial loads are transferable between the carrier shoulder and carrier recess.
  • the attachment formation may be an outwardly biased securing
  • receiving formation may include a radial shoulder, behind which the securing
  • ring is receivable in a clipping fashion.
  • the first article may be a neck guide, which defines a bottle-neck receiving formation, axially spaced from the attachment formation, and the second article may be a bottle handling machine.
  • the first article may be a drive shaft sub-assembly and the second article may be a star wheel, attachable to the drive shaft sub-assembly against rotation relative to the drive shaft sub-assembly.
  • the carrier shoulder may be defined on a carrier disc, which may be rotatably receivable on the drive shaft, and may be attachable to the drive shaft by a releasable fastener, said carrier disc defining a locking formation and said star wheel defining a complementary receiving formation, in which the locking formation is receivable to hold the star wheel against rotation relative to the carrier wheel.
  • the fastener may be a nut, screw-threadedly receivable on screw thread defined on the drive shaft.
  • the locking formation may be a radially protruding key formation, extending from the carrier shoulder.
  • the carrier disc may comprise a locating disc and a retaining formation extending radially outwardly from a lower periphery of the locating disc, to carry the star wheel under gravity.
  • the retaining formation may be a retaining plate disposed between the locating disc and a loading shoulder
  • the star wheel may include a star wheel disc in which the
  • a carrier recess is defined, and a locating plate in which the locating recess is
  • the locating plate may be axially spaced from the star wheel
  • bottle handling apparatus which includes: a drive shaft sub-assembly defining a circumferential locating surface adjacent an end of the drive shaft, and a carrier shoulder, axially spaced from the end, said carrier shoulder being defined on a carrier disc, which is rotatably receivable on the drive shaft, and which is attachable to the drive shaft, by a releasable fastener; and a star wheel defining a locating recess, complementary to the locating surface, and a carrier recess, complementary to the carrier shoulder; wherein the locating surface and carrier shoulder are simultaneously receivable in the locating recess and carrier recess, respectively, when the star wheel is attached to the drive shaft sub-assembly, so that radial loads are transferable between the locating surface and locating recess, and axial and radial loads are transferable between the carrier shoulder and carrier recess, and wherein the carrier disc defines a locking
  • the fastener may be a nut, screw-threadedly receivable on screw thread defined on the drive shaft.
  • the locking formation may be a radially protruding key formation, extending from the carrier shoulder.
  • the carrier disc may comprise a locating disc and a retaining formation extending radially outwardly from a lower periphery of the locating disc, to carry the star wheel under gravity, and the retaining formation may be a retaining plate disposed between the locating disc and a loading shoulder
  • the star wheel may include a star wheel disc in which the
  • a carrier recess is defined, and a locating plate in which the locating recess is
  • the locating plate may be axially spaced from the star wheel
  • the invention extends to a star wheel as described hereinabove,
  • Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a star wheel attachment assembly in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a sectional side view of the assembly of Figure 1 , with the star wheel lifted from the drive shaft; and Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of the assembly of Figure 1 , with the star wheel attached to the drive shaft.
  • bottle handling apparatus in accordance with the invention, in the form of a star wheel attachment
  • a star wheel of the assembly 10 is generally indicated by reference numeral 12
  • the drive shaft sub-assembly 14 includes a drive shaft 16 which defines a loading shoulder 18 and a cylindrical locating surface 20 proximate an upper end of the drive shaft 16.
  • a carrier disc comprising a
  • a carrier shoulder is defined by the radial periphery of the locating disc 22 adjacent the retaining plate 24.
  • the radius of the retaining plate 24 is larger than that of the carrier disc 22, to form the carrier shoulder, on which the star wheel 12 can be carried, under gravity.
  • the locating disc 22 defines a locking formation in the form of an axially protruding key formation 28 extending from a radial periphery of the
  • cap screw 34 which is screwed into an internally screw- threaded hole 36 extending axially from the end of the drive shaft 16.
  • the star wheel 12 includes a lower star wheel disc 40, a
  • the lower star wheel disc 40 and the locating plate 48 are spaced apart by three angularly spaced plate spacers 50, each extending axially between the lower star wheel disc 40 and
  • the locating plate 48 is
  • disc spacers 44 each extending co-axially with one of the plate spacers 50, between the locating plate 48 and the upper star wheel disc 42, and each held in position by the countersunk screws 46 protruding above the spacer plate 48, and countersunk screws 52 extending through the upper star wheel disc 42.
  • Radial recesses 41 are defined in the radial peripheries of the star wheel discs 41 ,42, in which bottles are received, to be propelled by the
  • a carrier recess in the form of a cylindrical first aperture 54 is
  • a radial recess 56 is defined in the periphery of the first aperture 54, complementary in shape to the radial periphery of the locating disc 22 and key formation 28, so that the
  • locating disc 22 is snugly receivable in the first aperture 54, with the retaining
  • a locating recess in the form of an axial, cylindrical second aperture 58 is defined centrally in the locating plate 48, and is
  • aperture 58 is spaced above the underside of the star wheel 12 by way of the spaced arrangement between the locating plate 48 and the lower star wheel
  • the star wheel 12 is located on the drive shaft sub- assembly 14 by sliding the star wheel 12 from an axially spaced position
  • wheel 12 is slid downwardly, and expands in clipping fashion adjacent a receiving formation in the form of an upper shoulder of the second aperture 58, to hold the locating plate 48 in the attached position.
  • the star wheel 12 is held axially in the attached position by the
  • the star wheel 12 is held in the attached position against radial
  • the star wheel 12 is positively secured against rotation relative to the drive shaft sub-assembly 14 by way of the positive engagement of the key formation 28 in the radial recess 56.
  • the star wheel 12 is held in the attached position against tilting by the simultaneous engagement of the locating surface 20 and locating disc 22 in the second aperture 58 and first aperture 54. If a tilting moment is exerted
  • the drive shaft 16 is required, the nut 26 is loosened so that the locating disc
  • the star wheel 12 and locating disc 22 can be locked in a
  • the star wheel 12 thus need not be removed from the attached position in order to displace it angularly relative to the drive shaft 16.
  • the nut 26 is accessed through radial apertures 60 defined between the lower star wheel
  • the invention illustrated holds the advantage of easy angular adjustment of the star wheel 12 relative to the drive shaft 16, while providing stable attachment of the star wheel 12 to the drive shaft 16. It holds the further advantage of quick and easy assembly and disassembly, since the star wheel 12 only needs to be lifted by a small axial distance, to be removed from the drive shaft sub-assembly 14, or to be replaced thereon.
  • invention holds the advantage of easy and secure attachment and removal of other equipment, such as neck guides, to bottle handling equipment.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Abstract

The invention provides bottle handling apparatus such as a star wheel assembly 10, in which a first article such as a drive shaft sub-assembly 14 is removably attachable to a second article such as a star wheel 12. The drive shaft sub-assembly 14 defines an attachment formation 30 proximate its end, a locating surface 20 adjacent the attachment formation 30, and a carrier shoulder comprising a locating disc 22 and a retaining plate 24, axially spaced from the end. The star wheel 12 defines a receiving formation and a locating recess 58, and a carrier recess 54, so that the attachment formation 30, locating surface 20, and carrier shoulder 22,24, are simultaneously receivable in the receiving formation and locating recess 58, and carrier recess 54, respectively, when the star wheel 12 is attached to the drive shaft sub-assembly 14.

Description

STAR WHEEL FOR THE HANDLING OF BOTTLES
THIS INVENTION relates to the assembly of apparatus for the
handling of bottles, such as neck guides and star wheels for supporting and
conveying bottles in a bottle handling plant. In particular, it relates to new
bottle handling apparatus.
Star wheels for conveying bottles in a bottling plant typically
comprise two or three spaced star wheel discs which are driven by a drive
shaft, extending upwardly from drive means located below the star wheel.
The star wheel has to be positively engaged for rotation with the drive shaft,
and the angular position of the star wheel relative to the drive shaft must be
adjustable to ensure that the timing with which bottles are conveyed by the
star wheel is synchronised with equipment of the bottling plant, such as
machines for rinsing, filling, applying caps, and the like, to prevent
breakages, disruption of production, incorrect operation of the bottling plant,
etc.
Other apparatus in bottling plants, such as neck guides, need not necessarily be adjustably fixed relative to a drive shaft, but often need to be installed and removed regularly, so that cumbersome installation methods result in loss of time and productivity. A first known star wheel attachment assembly includes a star wheel which rests on a shoulder disc attached to an upper end of the drive shaft, with at least one locating dowel extending upwardly from the shoulder disc into the star wheel, and with a fastening bolt extending from a top of the star wheel into a threaded hole in an upper end of the drive shaft. This type of assembly typically includes three dowels of which one is slightly wider than
the other two. The shoulder disc can be moved angularly around the drive
shaft and is locked against rotation relative to the drive shaft by a radially extending lock screw. Angular displacement of the star wheel relative to the
drive shaft requires loosening of the lock screw, which is located underneath the star wheel in a position which is difficult to reach, and the entire star wheel thus needs to be removed from the drive shaft. Removal of the star wheel requires removal of the fastening bolt and lifting of the star wheel to clear the dowel. The locating function of the dowel requires a close fit of each dowel in the star wheel, and the lifting operation has to be conducted carefully, with
near perfect vertical movement of the star wheel until each dowel is cleared. This operation is cumbersome and often needs to be repeated until the star
wheel is in the required angular position relative to the drive shaft.
A second known star wheel attachment assembly includes a
shoulder formation and carrier plate rotatably mounted on a shoulder defined
on the drive shaft, proximate an upper end of the drive shaft, and located against angular displacement around the drive shaft by a nut screwed onto
thread provided at the upper end of the drive shaft. The star wheel is
angularly located on the disc by at least one locating dowel extending
vertically into the star wheel. Angular adjustment of the star wheel relative to
the drive shaft requires loosening and re-fastening of the nut. While this
arrangement allows simpler and easier angular adjustment of the star wheel
relative to the drive shaft compared to the first known assembly, in order to
remove the star wheel, it still has to be lifted vertically until the dowels are
cleared. In this arrangement the star wheel is held in position on top of the
disc under gravity and is located in position only be the dowel(s) and a snug
fit on the should formation, and the star wheel therefore tends to be unstable.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided
bottle handling apparatus, which includes:
a first article having an axis, and defining a resilient attachment formation proximate an end of the first article, a circumferential locating surface adjacent the attachment formation, and a carrier shoulder, axially spaced from the end; and a second article defining a receiving formation, in which the attachment formation is releasable receivable, a locating recess, complementary to the locating surface, and a carrier recess, complementary to the carrier shoulder; wherein the attachment formation, locating surface, and carrier shoulder, are simultaneously receivable in the receiving formation, locating recess, and carrier recess, respectively, when the first article is attached to the second article, so that radial loads are transferable between the locating surface and locating recess, and axial and radial loads are transferable between the carrier shoulder and carrier recess.
The attachment formation may be an outwardly biased securing
ring with a larger outer diameter than that of the locating surface, and the
receiving formation may include a radial shoulder, behind which the securing
ring is receivable in a clipping fashion.
The first article may be a neck guide, which defines a bottle-neck receiving formation, axially spaced from the attachment formation, and the second article may be a bottle handling machine.
Instead, the first article may be a drive shaft sub-assembly and the second article may be a star wheel, attachable to the drive shaft sub-assembly against rotation relative to the drive shaft sub-assembly.
The carrier shoulder may be defined on a carrier disc, which may be rotatably receivable on the drive shaft, and may be attachable to the drive shaft by a releasable fastener, said carrier disc defining a locking formation and said star wheel defining a complementary receiving formation, in which the locking formation is receivable to hold the star wheel against rotation relative to the carrier wheel.
The fastener may be a nut, screw-threadedly receivable on screw thread defined on the drive shaft.
The locking formation may be a radially protruding key formation, extending from the carrier shoulder.
The carrier disc may comprise a locating disc and a retaining formation extending radially outwardly from a lower periphery of the locating disc, to carry the star wheel under gravity. In particular, the retaining formation may be a retaining plate disposed between the locating disc and a loading shoulder
defined on the drive shaft.
The star wheel may include a star wheel disc in which the
carrier recess is defined, and a locating plate in which the locating recess is
defined, and the locating plate may be axially spaced from the star wheel
disc, allowing access to the nut through an aperture defined between the
locating plate and the star wheel disc. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided bottle handling apparatus, which includes: a drive shaft sub-assembly defining a circumferential locating surface adjacent an end of the drive shaft, and a carrier shoulder, axially spaced from the end, said carrier shoulder being defined on a carrier disc, which is rotatably receivable on the drive shaft, and which is attachable to the drive shaft, by a releasable fastener; and a star wheel defining a locating recess, complementary to the locating surface, and a carrier recess, complementary to the carrier shoulder; wherein the locating surface and carrier shoulder are simultaneously receivable in the locating recess and carrier recess, respectively, when the star wheel is attached to the drive shaft sub-assembly, so that radial loads are transferable between the locating surface and locating recess, and axial and radial loads are transferable between the carrier shoulder and carrier recess, and wherein the carrier disc defines a locking formation and the star wheel defines a complementary receiving formation in which the locking formation is receivable, to hold the star wheel against rotation relative to the carrier disc.
The fastener may be a nut, screw-threadedly receivable on screw thread defined on the drive shaft. The locking formation may be a radially protruding key formation, extending from the carrier shoulder.
The carrier disc may comprise a locating disc and a retaining formation extending radially outwardly from a lower periphery of the locating disc, to carry the star wheel under gravity, and the retaining formation may be a retaining plate disposed between the locating disc and a loading shoulder
defined on the drive shaft.
The star wheel may include a star wheel disc in which the
carrier recess is defined, and a locating plate in which the locating recess is
defined, and the locating plate may be axially spaced from the star wheel
disc, allowing access to the nut through an aperture defined between the
locating plate and the star wheel disc.
The invention extends to a star wheel as described hereinabove,
and to a kit for attaching a star wheel on a drive shaft, as described
hereinabove.
The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting
example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
In the drawings: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a star wheel attachment assembly in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a sectional side view of the assembly of Figure 1 , with the star wheel lifted from the drive shaft; and Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of the assembly of Figure 1 , with the star wheel attached to the drive shaft.
Referring to the drawings, bottle handling apparatus in accordance with the invention, in the form of a star wheel attachment
assembly, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10, a star wheel of the assembly 10 is generally indicated by reference numeral 12, and a drive
shaft sub-assembly of the assembly 10 is generally indicated by reference
numeral 14.
The drive shaft sub-assembly 14 includes a drive shaft 16 which defines a loading shoulder 18 and a cylindrical locating surface 20 proximate an upper end of the drive shaft 16. A carrier disc comprising a
locating disc 22 and a retaining plate 24, is rotatably mounted on the load
shoulder 18, and is fastened to the shaft by a nut 26, which is screw-
threadedly attached to the drive shaft 16 between the locating surface 20 and
the locating disc 22. A carrier shoulder is defined by the radial periphery of the locating disc 22 adjacent the retaining plate 24. The radius of the retaining plate 24 is larger than that of the carrier disc 22, to form the carrier shoulder, on which the star wheel 12 can be carried, under gravity.
The locating disc 22 defines a locking formation in the form of an axially protruding key formation 28 extending from a radial periphery of the
locating disc 22.
An attachment formation in the form of an outwardly biased
securing ring 30 with a larger outer diameter than that of the locating surface
20, is disposed adjacent the locating surface 20 remote from the load
shoulder 18, and is held in position by a cap 32 attached to the end of the
drive shaft 16 by a cap screw 34 which is screwed into an internally screw- threaded hole 36 extending axially from the end of the drive shaft 16.
The star wheel 12 includes a lower star wheel disc 40, a
locating plate 48, and an upper star wheel disc 42, held generally parallel to
each other in a vertically spaced arrangement. The lower star wheel disc 40 and the locating plate 48 are spaced apart by three angularly spaced plate spacers 50, each extending axially between the lower star wheel disc 40 and
the locating plate 48, and each held in place by countersunk screws 46, extending axially through each plate spacer 50. The locating plate 48 is
axially spaced from the upper star wheel disc 42 by three angularly spaced
disc spacers 44, each extending co-axially with one of the plate spacers 50, between the locating plate 48 and the upper star wheel disc 42, and each held in position by the countersunk screws 46 protruding above the spacer plate 48, and countersunk screws 52 extending through the upper star wheel disc 42.
Radial recesses 41 are defined in the radial peripheries of the star wheel discs 41 ,42, in which bottles are received, to be propelled by the
star wheel 12.
A carrier recess in the form of a cylindrical first aperture 54 is
defined centrally in the lower star wheel disc 40 and a radial recess 56 is defined in the periphery of the first aperture 54, complementary in shape to the radial periphery of the locating disc 22 and key formation 28, so that the
locating disc 22 is snugly receivable in the first aperture 54, with the retaining
formation abutting an underside of the lower star wheel disc 40.
A locating recess in the form of an axial, cylindrical second aperture 58 is defined centrally in the locating plate 48, and is
complementary in shape to the locating surface 20, so that the locating surface 20 is snugly receivable in the second aperture 58. The second
aperture 58 is spaced above the underside of the star wheel 12 by way of the spaced arrangement between the locating plate 48 and the lower star wheel
disc 40, such that the locating disc 22 and locating surface 20 are simultaneously snugly receivable in the first and second apertures 54,58, respectively.
In use, the star wheel 12 is located on the drive shaft sub- assembly 14 by sliding the star wheel 12 from an axially spaced position
shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, axially downwardly into an attached position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The securing ring 30 is urged
radially inwardly by the periphery of the second aperture 58 when the star
wheel 12 is slid downwardly, and expands in clipping fashion adjacent a receiving formation in the form of an upper shoulder of the second aperture 58, to hold the locating plate 48 in the attached position.
The star wheel 12 is held axially in the attached position by the
clipping action of the securing ring 30, and is held under gravity, which
causes the lower star wheel disc 40 to abut vertically against the retaining plate 24.
The star wheel 12 is held in the attached position against radial
displacement by the snug fit of the periphery of the locating disc 22 against the inner surface of the first aperture 54. The star wheel 12 is positively secured against rotation relative to the drive shaft sub-assembly 14 by way of the positive engagement of the key formation 28 in the radial recess 56.
The star wheel 12 is held in the attached position against tilting by the simultaneous engagement of the locating surface 20 and locating disc 22 in the second aperture 58 and first aperture 54. If a tilting moment is exerted
on the star wheel 12, the axial spacing between these two areas of
engagement allows a stabilising counter-moment to be exerted, to counter the
tilting moment. This allows the axial width of the engaging surfaces to be small compared to the width of the disc in the second known assembly,
described hereinabove, which is equal to the thickness of its lower star wheel
disc, with the result that, when the star wheel 12 of the present invention is removed from the drive shaft sub-assembly 14, it needs to be lifted in an axial direction only by a height sufficient for the lower star wheel disc 40 to clear the
locating disc 22, and for the locating plate 48 to clear the cap 32. The axial
displacement thus required in the invention, is less than that required in either
of the two known star wheel attachment assemblies described hereinabove,
where vertical dowels and/or a thick disc have to be cleared by the star wheel, upon removal. The star wheel 12 is further held in the attached position against tilting, in that a tilting load which seeks to pivot the star wheel 12, will seek to cause pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis extending generally tangential with the circumference of the retaining plate 24. If the star wheel 12 were to tilt under this load, pivotal movement of the locating plate 48 about the pivot axis, would cause the periphery of the second aperture 58 to be urged
upwardly and towards the securing ring 30, but since the locating plate 48
already abuts the securing ring 30, which in turn abuts the cap 32, no
significant movement of the locating plate 48 can occur, and thus no tilting of the star wheel 12 can occur.
In use, when angular displacement of the star wheel 12 relative to
the drive shaft 16 is required, the nut 26 is loosened so that the locating disc
22, together with the star wheel 12 is free to be displaced angularly about the
drive shaft 16. The star wheel 12 and locating disc 22 can be locked in a
desired angular position relative to the drive shaft 16 by re-fastening the nut 26. The star wheel 12 thus need not be removed from the attached position in order to displace it angularly relative to the drive shaft 16. The nut 26 is accessed through radial apertures 60 defined between the lower star wheel
disc 40 and locating plate 48, between adjacent plate spacers 50. The invention illustrated holds the advantage of easy angular adjustment of the star wheel 12 relative to the drive shaft 16, while providing stable attachment of the star wheel 12 to the drive shaft 16. It holds the further advantage of quick and easy assembly and disassembly, since the star wheel 12 only needs to be lifted by a small axial distance, to be removed from the drive shaft sub-assembly 14, or to be replaced thereon. This
advantage reduces the risk that equipment disposed above the star wheel 12 is damaged when the star wheel 12 is installed or removed. Similarly, the
invention holds the advantage of easy and secure attachment and removal of other equipment, such as neck guides, to bottle handling equipment.

Claims

CLAIMS:
Bottle handling apparatus, which includes: a first article having an axis, and defining a resilient attachment formation proximate an end of the first article, a circumferential locating surface adjacent the attachment formation, and a carrier shoulder, axially spaced from the end; and a second article defining a receiving formation, in which the attachment formation is releasable receivable, a locating recess, complementary to the locating surface, and a carrier recess, complementary to the carrier shoulder; characterised in that the attachment formation, locating surface, and carrier shoulder, are simultaneously receivable in the receiving formation, locating recess, and carrier recess, respectively, when the first article is attached to the second article, so that radial loads are transferable between the locating surface and locating recess, and axial and radial loads are transferable between the carrier shoulder and carrier recess.
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that the attachment formation is an outwardly biased securing ring with a larger outer
diameter than that of the locating surface, and the receiving formation includes a radial shoulder, behind which the securing ring is receivable in a
clipping fashion.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the first article is a neck guide, which defines a bottle-neck receiving formation, axially spaced from the attachment formation, and the second article is a bottle handling machine.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the first article is a drive shaft sub-assembly and the second article is a star wheel, attachable to the drive shaft sub-assembly against rotation relative to the drive shaft sub-assembly.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the carrier shoulder is defined on a carrier disc, which is rotatably receivable on the drive shaft, and attachable to the drive shaft by a releasable fastener, said carrier disc defining a locking formation and said star wheel defining a complementary receiving formation, in which the locking formation is receivable to hold the star wheel against rotation relative to the carrier wheel.
6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the fastener is a nut, screw-threadedly receivable on screw thread defined on the drive shaft.
7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the locking formation is a radially protruding key formation, extending from the carrier shoulder.
8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the carrier disc comprises a locating disc and a retaining formation extending radially outwardly from a lower periphery of the locating disc, to carry the star wheel under gravity.
9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the retaining formation is a retaining plate disposed between the locating disc and
a loading shoulder defined on the drive shaft.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the star wheel includes a star wheel disc in which the carrier recess is
defined, and a locating plate in which the locating recess is defined.
11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, insofar as it is directly or indirectly dependent on Claim 6, characterised in that the locating plate is
axially spaced from the star wheel disc, allowing access to the nut through an
aperture defined between the locating plate and the star wheel disc.
12. Bottle handling apparatus, which includes: a drive shaft sub-assembly defining a circumferential locating surface adjacent an end of the drive shaft, and a carrier shoulder, axially spaced from the end, said carrier shoulder being defined on a carrier disc, which is rotatably receivable on the drive shaft, and which is attachable to the drive shaft, by a releasable fastener; and a star wheel defining a locating recess, complementary to the locating surface, and a carrier recess, complementary to the carrier shoulder; characterised in that the locating surface and carrier shoulder are simultaneously receivable in the locating recess and carrier recess, respectively, when the star wheel is attached to the drive shaft sub-assembly, so that radial loads are transferable between the locating surface and locating recess, and axial and radial loads are transferable between the carrier shoulder and carrier recess, and characterised further in that the carrier disc defines a locking formation and the star wheel defines a complementary receiving formation in which the locking formation is receivable, to hold the star wheel against rotation relative to the carrier disc.
13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the fastener is a nut, screw-threadedly receivable on screw thread defined on the drive shaft.
14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the locking formation is a radially protruding key formation, extending from the carrier shoulder.
15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the carrier disc comprises a locating disc and a retaining formation extending radially outwardly from a lower periphery of the locating disc, to carry the star wheel under gravity.
16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, characterised in that the retaining formation is a retaining plate disposed between the locating disc and
a loading shoulder defined on the drive shaft.
17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 16, characterised in that the star wheel includes a star wheel disc in which the
carrier recess is defined, and a locating plate in which the locating recess is
defined.
18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, insofar as it is directly or indirectly dependent on Claim 13, characterised in that the locating plate is
axially spaced from the star wheel disc, allowing access to the nut through an
aperture defined between the locating plate and the star wheel disc.
19. Bottle handling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 12, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
20. New apparatus, substantially as herein described.
PCT/IB2003/000161 2002-01-25 2003-01-23 Star wheel for the handling of bottles WO2003062104A1 (en)

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ZA200200699 2002-01-25
ZA2002/0699 2002-01-25

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2913964A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-26 Faber Soc Par Actions Simplifi Transfer tooling element e.g. lower inlet/outlet guide, connecting device for e.g. filling machine, has locking element movable between locking and unlocking positions, where element is not cooperated with housing in unlocking position
CN102001610A (en) * 2010-10-26 2011-04-06 上海东富龙科技股份有限公司 Star wheel feeding device

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2621841A (en) * 1948-07-01 1952-12-16 Continental Can Co Filled can handling apparatus
EP0411851A1 (en) * 1989-08-03 1991-02-06 Kirin Techno-System Corporation Rotary index apparatus
US6336766B1 (en) * 1998-12-22 2002-01-08 Serac Group Fixing device for quickly fastening and releasing a mechanical part that bears on a support base

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2621841A (en) * 1948-07-01 1952-12-16 Continental Can Co Filled can handling apparatus
EP0411851A1 (en) * 1989-08-03 1991-02-06 Kirin Techno-System Corporation Rotary index apparatus
US6336766B1 (en) * 1998-12-22 2002-01-08 Serac Group Fixing device for quickly fastening and releasing a mechanical part that bears on a support base

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2913964A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-26 Faber Soc Par Actions Simplifi Transfer tooling element e.g. lower inlet/outlet guide, connecting device for e.g. filling machine, has locking element movable between locking and unlocking positions, where element is not cooperated with housing in unlocking position
CN102001610A (en) * 2010-10-26 2011-04-06 上海东富龙科技股份有限公司 Star wheel feeding device

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